2. The More the Merrier (1/2)

disclaimer: not mine, borrowed and nurtured. a/n: thanks for the favs & follows.

berkeley series

ii

the more the merrier

ryan pushed his shoulder against his apartment door and jiggled the key, hoping it would give in. he glimpsed the kid's sour expression, and regretted not getting a locksmith before today, it was on his to-do-list, but had slipped his mind, like everything else had that day.

"you sure this is your apartment?"

ryan

ushed off the kid's suspicion and yelled for taylor's help. he caught the kid's instant regret, and noticed him gripping his bike's handles, as if ready to mount it down three flights of stairs.

"it's really not that bad on the inside," he said.

they heard the lock slide, and ryan took his keys back to see taylor's vivid features. she wore a black dress with hooped earrings, and a green coat, she must have just gotten home from work herself. he almost forgot to give her the chinese takeout, as she kissed him in greeting.

"bonsoir, comment ca va?"

"it means, how are you?" ryan translated, kicking his boots off at the door.

"hungry, i guess," the kid admitted.

"well, it's a good thing we ordered extra food then. i hope you like chinese?"

taylor took their dinner and invited them inside where je pense! reruns were playing on the tv. ryan observed suitcases with tags from the amalfi coast, italy, and two pairs of sneakers. he smiled, he wasn't expecting seth and summer until next week, but their impromptu visit was welcomed.

"yeah, it's better than rummaging through the garbage bin."

taylor exchanged an alarmed look with ryan, who hadn't the heart to say, he had been there.

they moved into the living room, where taylor had set out some plates and cutlery.

"we've got mongolian lamb, fried rice, beef in black bean, lemon chicken and satay chicken."

taylor opened each chinese container and unpacked the chopsticks and fortune cookies.

the kid fumbled with the chopsticks, spilling beef down his shirt. taylor showed him how to balance the sticks on his fingers. "it's easy once you get the hang of it," she said.

"ryan!" seth grinned, holding beers. "it's been too long, man."

seth passed ryan a beer, his hair longer than ryan remembered, with a tan on his arms and face.